One major casualty in the Great Recession has come to roost here, no more free parking on weekday evenings and Saturdays. Yet another step Austin has taken toward becoming Dallas II or Houston Jr from my perspective. Chicago had a huge fight over privatization too, a major mistake; the revenue belongs to the people of the city or county, not a corporation that will jack rates without any accountability or transparency. Something the Chicago Tribune favors until the sunlight is focused on their dirty laundry.
However, I’m of two minds about this. As a concert fan and special events attendee, taking away the free parking after 6 PM pisses me off. It feels like the tone-deaf City Council doesn’t care if they kill the gold-egg laying geese (Stubb’s, Alamo Ritz, the Parrish, Mohawk and most of Sixth Street). Never mind how this makes the title of Live Music Capital of the World a sad, sick joke when the creative people who made Austin can no longer afford to reside here. My original criticism, which almost made me leave in 1995, draws closer to being true…Austin is just a resort/playground for the children of wealthy assholes from Dallas, Houston and San Antonio.
On the other hand, I am fortunate. Whenever I volunteer for an Ecology Action-backed show with Stubb’s, I’m allowed to park in their lot without fear (of being towed). Having a conscience, I will only do this when I have previous permission through my contact and I am a volunteer, not a paying customer which I will be for the upcoming Scissor Sisters concert, definitely one the events of this Spring! Even with other downtown events, the metered parking will remain a bargain. Currently the rate is roughly a buck an hour which is cheaper than the vulture lots; at least seven dollars regardless of the duration you may need it for. Plus Austin recently upgraded to meters capable of taking plastic, the lots remain cash only.
So I grudgingly side with the change but take the Council to task for the means by which they did it. I know what people would say in the public hearing because elected officials (especially at the lower, local levels) lack the courage to lay it on the line with the citizens. After all, they do want to keep their jobs too.